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Old 01-12-2025, 11:20 AM   #1
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do stabilizers have to be down to slide?

I just bought a 5th wheel (41’ 2021 forest river sandpiper with 6 slides). I took it out on its maiden voyage over the holidays and i always unhooked and put down my levelers before sliding out the slides, even when i was just at a campground for 10pm till 8am. I have never had a 5th wheel before and assumed that I had to put the levelers down to deploy the slideouts. My 2 uncles have had 5th wheels with 2 slides and they said I was crazy, unhooking and leveling just to sleep one night somewhere and they would just leave it hooked up and deploy the slides (one of the slides must be out to sleep) as long as it is pretty level where I am parked. Any thoughts?
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Old 01-12-2025, 12:41 PM   #2
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I believe it's less stressful (structurally) to have the vehicle level when running the slides in and out, but as you're about to find out, folks' opinions on that matter go both ways, as with that of your two uncles. I personally like to have the unit level for comfort just walking around inside. Then there's the issue of keeping your refrigerator mostly level is it is an evaporative model. As to disconnecting from your tow vehicle, I would think you could run out levelers and slides without necessarily unhooking. My two pennies worth of opinion, FWIT.

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Old 01-12-2025, 01:45 PM   #3
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In order to keep your trailer perfectly level, it is best to put levelers down first. My owners manual recommends doing this.

However, just to sleep, and move on next day, I would not bother. The jacks/levelers are not supporting the slides.

I would get FW parked reasonably level, especially front to rear, so slides deploy level, front/rear.
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Old 01-12-2025, 02:00 PM   #4
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41' with 6 slides........

If CG Site is 'level' and 5vr is 'level' then no need to unhook

AS for slides.........
Does your 5vr have 'auto' levelers or manual motor driven ?
Are you extending all 6 slides?

Personally......with 6 slides I would deploy all levelers/stabilizers but not unhook

*5vr should be level when towing so should be level when parked (CG Site dependent)
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Old 01-12-2025, 03:27 PM   #5
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Sorry, I should have mentioned that I have auto levelers, so I can put down the front ones manually but then the directions say to get the truck out of there because sometimes the auto-leveling program brings the front down quite a bit and hitting the truck would be no bueno.

thx for your time
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Old 01-12-2025, 08:20 PM   #6
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I have always level my rv before I put my slides out it just make sense.
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Old 01-12-2025, 10:40 PM   #7
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I only have 3 slides on a 35 foot 5th wheel and when just staying one night I will just leave it hitched to the truck if fairly level, and I may or may not put the levelers down. If I'm putting all three slides out I will usually put the levelers down as support, but not auto level it. If I'm just putting the bedroom slide out I do not always extend the levelers. But I will park in a fairly level spot normally.
Your rv is much larger then mine and if you are extending all slides, I would extend the levelers for support but not do the autolevel process.
Thanks,
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Old 01-13-2025, 08:09 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rjdieper View Post
Sorry, I should have mentioned that I have auto levelers, so I can put down the front ones manually but then the directions say to get the truck out of there because sometimes the auto-leveling program brings the front down quite a bit and hitting the truck would be no bueno.

thx for your time
Even with the auto-leveling system, you should be able to operate in "manual mode". Which system do you have installed?
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Old 01-13-2025, 04:24 PM   #9
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Easy peasy, what does your owners manual tell you to do?

As we said in the military.

Identify the problem, fix it!!

Simple enough!

Somethings are over thought.

Happy Glamping!!!

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Old 01-31-2025, 04:57 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit View Post
41' with 6 slides........

If CG Site is 'level' and 5vr is 'level' then no need to unhook

AS for slides.........
Does your 5vr have 'auto' levelers or manual motor driven ?
Are you extending all 6 slides?

Personally......with 6 slides I would deploy all levelers/stabilizers but not unhook

*5vr should be level when towing so should be level when parked (CG Site dependent)
Been doing this for years for a one nighter. If fairly level I keep the camper hook up to the truck and manually lower my levelers. Never had a problem.
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Old 02-08-2025, 06:20 PM   #11
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Been doing this for years for a one nighter. If fairly level I keep the camper hook up to the truck and manually lower my levelers. Never had a problem.
Yes, I've done it. I ground all 4 and then adjust 1 pair at a time slowly. It works.
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